A wrappable microwire electrode for awake, chronic interfacing with small diameter autonomic peripheral nerves

Abstract

Bioelectronic medicine requires the ability to monitor and modulate nerve activity in awake patients over time. The vagus nerve is a promising stimulation target, and preclinical models often use mice. However, an awake, chronic mouse vagus nerve interface has yet to be demonstrated. Here, we developed a functional wrappable microwire electrode to chronically interface with the small diameter mouse cervical vagus nerve (∼100 μm). In an acute setting, the wrappable microwire had similar recording performance to commercially available electrodes. A chronic, awake mouse model was then developed to record spontaneous compound action potentials (CAPs). Viable signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) were obtained from the wrappable microwires between 30 and 60 days (n = 8). Weekly impedance measurements showed no correlation between SNR or time. The wrappable microwires successfully interfaced with small diameter nerves and has been validated in a chronic, awake preclinical model, which can better facilitate clinical translation for bioelectronic medicine.